Mower



('No Model.) 3Sheets$heet 1. J. KAUPMANN. MOWER.

Patented 001;. 28, 1890.

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{No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. KAUPMANN. MOWER.

No. 439,278. Patented 001;. 28, 1890*.

(No Model.) 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 3.

J.KA-UF MANN. MOWER.

No. 439,278. v Patented Oct; 28, 1890.

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m I "V I/ Wiigzsses g Q lgaegfr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB KAUFMANN, OF OAPAC, MICHIGAN.

MOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,278, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed July 13, 1890. Serial No. 359,176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JACOB KAUFMAN N, acitizen of the United States, residing at Gapac, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Mower, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harvesters, and more particularly to that class thereof known as mowers, and the object of the invention is to elfectimprovements upon devices of this general character heretofore existing.

To this end the invention consists of the specific details of construction hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figurel is a plan view of this machine with the cuttar-bar slightly raised from the ground. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right-hand side of the machine, the supporting-wheels being removed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 1 is a perspective detail of the finger-bar, showin g the shoe slightly elevated. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the knife-bar-operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the right ratchet-box. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of the left ratchet-box; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 9 is a section through the sleeve and its eccentric bearings. Fig. 10 is a perspective detail of one of the levers'and its retractingspring, showing the slot and chain.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter F designates the frame-work, mounted upon supporting-wheels W, the latter through ratchet-boxes R driving a crank-shaft S.

T is a tubular casing for the pitman-rod P, which operates mechanism within the shoe U to drive the cutting apparatus 0, these parts operating in a well known manner and being of the following specific construction:

The frame-work F comprises an approximately rectangular frame 1, having a diagonal brace 2, all of which stands high above the ground, being supported upon a stationary cranked axle 3,which carries the main support ing-wheels W. The latter are of ordinary construction, and are provided with internal toothed rings 4., adapted to engage gears 5, which are loosely mounted upon the ends of a shaft 6, carried by the frame F.

Referring now to Fig. 6, one end of the shaft 6 has a ratchet-box R, that in this figure be collars.

fast on the shaft, the collar 8, whose fingersing located at the right-hand end of the shaft 6 and that in-Fig. 7 at the left-hand end of the shaft, although this construction is only preferable and may be reversed, if desirable. The gear 5 at the right-hand end of the shaft 6 has teeth 7 upon its inner face, and a toothed collar 8 is adapted to engage said teeth,being pressed normally outward from a collar 9 (fixed on the shaft 6 by a set-screw 10) by an expansive coil-spring 11, which surrounds alternating engaging fingers 12 on these two As the collar 9 and its fingers 12 are engage those on the collar 9, can slide longitudinally on the shaft, but must rotate therewith. The gear 5 at the left-hand end of the shaft 6 has a hub 13, provided with radial ratchet-teeth, and pawls 14, pivoted to a large gear 15, engage these ratchet-teeth, said large gear being keyed to the shaft 6. By this means the supporting-wheels lV are permitted to turn backward without revolving the shaft 6; but the shaft 6 and large gear 15 will be caused to turn when either supportingwheel moves forward.

The crank-shaft S is journaled in the rear side of the frame 1 and has a small gear on its left end adapted to engage the large gear 15, whereby forward motion of the machine will be converted into rotary motion of the crank-shaft S. In order, however, that the motion of the crank-shaft may be stopped even though the machine is progressing, I pro vide a long semi-cylindrical sleeve 21, whose cylindrical ends are journaled in'boxes 22, supported on the sides of the frame 1, and which is adapted to be turned therein by means of a handle 23, connected to one end of the sleeve. Through the ends of thissleeve are formed eccentric bearings 25, in which the shaft 6 is journaled, whereby when the lever 23 is operated the shaft 6 will be bodily moved forward and back upon the framework F, its gears 5 being engaged with or dis engaged from the teeth 4 in the wheels W and its large gear 15 being engaged with or disengaged from the gear 20 on the shaft S, whereby the cutting apparatus is thrown into or out of operation.

Loosely mounted upon the right-hand end of the crank-shaft S is an arm 30, having a hollow head 31, standing at right angles to said shaft, and in this head turns the tubular casing T, which extends along beneath the right side of the frame-work F. Near the front end of this tubular casing T is a hollow box 32 on the free end of an arm or bent lever 33, whose other end is provided with abox 34, loosely mounted on the casing of the shaft S near its left end, the body of the arm 33 standing alongside the diagonal brace 2.

35 is a bracket rising from the right side of the frame-work and having a stub-shaft 36, and on this shaft is mounted an operatinglever handle 37, having a lower arc-shaped face 38. A cord or chain 39 is connected to one end of the are 33, and also connected to the arm 33 below it, whereby when this lever-- handle is drawn to the rear the arm 33, box 32, and front end of the tubular casing T will be raised, the latter turning about the shaft S as a pivot. A coil-spring 40 is connected at its rear end to the frame-work and has a chain 41 at its front end passing through a slot 42 in the body of the lever-handle 37 and connected with the arc 38, the tension of which spring assists in raising the tubular casing T and the parts carried thereby. By moving this lever-handle the shoe U and the cutting apparatus 0 can be raised 'or lowered to cut the grass the proper length in a manner well known in this class of machines.

The right-hand end of the shaft S is provided with a crank or crank-wheel 50, upon which is pivoted the inner end of the pitman P, which passes down through the tubular casing and is connected by ball-and-socket joint 51 with the inner end of a bell-crank lever 52, as shown. The heel or elbow of this lever is bifurcated and is pivoted to each side of the block 53, which is in turn mounted upon a vertical pivot 54, seated in a lateral extension 55 of the front end of the tubular casing T. By this means when the crankshaft S is rotated alongitudinal reciprocation will be given the pitman P for a purpose to be explained hereinafter, and the ball-andsocket joint 51 will permit the tubular casing T to be turned axially without interrupting the movement of the bell-crank lever 52.

The cutting apparatusCis of any preferred construction and forms no essential part of the present invention. The finger-bar is provided with hinges 60, by which it is connected to the extension 55 in such a manner that the shoe U and the entire cutting apparatus can be turned up so that the knives will stand at an angle to the surface of the ground. The knifebar 61 has a head 62, provided with a transverse groove 63, and in this groove moves the rounded head 64 of a turned-down arm,which projects from the front end of the bell-crank lever 52. By this means the reciprocation of the pitman-rod P will be communicated to the knife-bar 61, and when the shoe U is turned up the head 64: will move farther out in the groove 63, the bifurcated end of the bell-crank lever 52 will turn upon its pivotal connection with the block 53, and the balland-socket joint 51 will turn relatively to the inner arm of the bell-crank lever 52, the motion of the pitman P being uninterrupted and being still communicated to the knife-bar 61. The said shoe is elevated by means of a bar 70, pivoted to a lug 71 on the inner end of the shoe and extending loosely through the tubular casing T where the latter passes through the box 32, a rod 72 being swiveled, as at 73, to the rear end of this bar, and led thence rearwardly under the right side of the fram e-work to the lower end of a handle-lever 75, pivoted at 76 to the frame-work, as best seen in Fig. 2. \Vhen this lever is thrown forward, the bar is drawn to the rear, and the shoe U and cutting apparatus 0 are turned up in front, as will be clear.

80 is a grooved ring secured to the tubular casing T, and from this grooved ring leads a cord or chain 81 over a pulley 82 to an areshaped face 85 of a handle-lever 86, mounted upon the stub-shaft 36 alongside the lever 37, this lever being also assisted in its operative movement by a coil-spring 87, connecting it with the frame-work. The said pulley 82 is mounted in a sheath 83, which is journaled on a pin 84, carried by the frame-work, as shown in Fig. 8. By this means when the lever 86 is borne to the rear the chain 81 is draw upon, turning the cam 80 and with it the tubular casing T, and thereby raising the outer end of the cutting apparatus 0 around its inner end as a center, so that said cutting apparatus shall assume a vertical position, and no grass will be out. Even in this position, should the crank-shaft S be still rotating and the pitman P be still moving, the ball-and-socket joint 51 permits the bellcrank lever 52 to turn and knife-bar 61 continues its movement, although it may be stopped by shifting the lever 23. A suitable device, as the arrow-head 89, is supported from the rear side of the framework F, beneath which the levers for raising the shoe or for turning the tubular casing may be engaged in a manner which will be clearly understood.

With a machine of the above construction it will be understood that a suitable seat is to be provided for the driver, and advantage arises in having the frame-work F so far above the ground, because the grass does not clog the working parts of the machinery, and the machine can be driven over a large log, stone, or stump by simply throwing the shoe U and cutting apparatus 0 out of operative position and to such a height that they will clear such obstruction.

hat I claim is 1. In a mowing-machine, the combination, 7

with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55 at its forward end, the bell-crank lever 52, mounted on a pivot in said extension, the finger-bar 0, connected to said extension, and the knife-bar 61, connected to the front end of said bell-crank lever, of the longitudinallyreciprocating pitman-rod P, the ball-and-socket joint 51 between said pitman-rod and the inner end of the bell-crank lever, the hollow supports surrounding said.

tubular casing, the grooved ring 80 on the latter, the chain 81, leading from said grooved ring, and a handle-lever 86, connected to said chain to turn the tubular extension within said hollow supports, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55 at its forward end, the pivot 54 on said extension, the block 53, mounted loosely upon said pivot, the bell-crank lever having a bifurcated heel pivoted to the side of said block, the finger-bar C, connected by hinges to said extension, the knife-bar 61, whose head 62 has a transverse groove 63, and the rounded head 64 on the front end of said bell-crank lever engaging said groove, of the longitudinally-reciprocating pitman-rod P, the ball-and-socket joint 51 between said pitman-rod and the inner end of the bellcrank lever, the hollow supports surrounding said semi-tubular casing, means for turning the latter in said supports to elevate the outer end of the cutting apparatus, the bar 7 O, pivoted to a lug 71 on the shoe U and passing within said casing through the forward end of said supports, the rod 72, swiveled at 73 to said bar, and means for drawing said rod to' raise the front edge of said cutting apparatus, substantially as described.

3. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55 at its forward end, the pivot 54 on said extension, the block 53, mounted loosely upon said pivot, the bell-crank lever 52, having a bifurcated heel pivoted to the sides of said block, and the longitudinally-reciprocating pitman P, connected by ball-and-socket joint 51 to the inner arm of said bell-crank lever, of the cutting apparatus 0, connected by hinges 60 to said extension, means for raising the front edge of said cutting apparatus, and a knife-bar 61, the front end of said bellcrank lever engaging said knife-bar, the whole operating substantially as described.

4. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55, the pivot 54 on said extension, the bell-crank lever 52, pivotally connected thereto, and the longitudinal]y-reciprocating pitman P, connected to the inner arm of said bell-crank lever, of the cutting apparatus 0, connect-ed by hinges 60 to said extension, a knife-bar 61, having the transversely-grooved head 62, and a rounded head 64 on the front end of said bell-crank lever engaging the transverse groove 63 in the head of said knifebar, the whole operating substantially as described. a

5. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55 at its forward end, the bell-crank lever pivoted thereon, the cutting apparatus 0, connected by hinges 60 to said extension, the knife-bar 61, Whose head 62 has a transverse groove 63, and the rounded head 64: on the front end of said bell-crank lever engaging said groove, of the longitudinally-reciprocating pitman-rod P, the ball-and-socket joint 51 between said pitman-rod and the inner end of the bell-crank lever, the hollow supports surrounding said semi-tubular casing, means for turning the latter in said supports to elevate the outer end of the cutting apparatus, the bar 70, pivoted to a lug 71 on the shoe U and passingwithin said casing through the forward end of said supports, the rod 7 2, swiveled at 7 3 to said bar, and means for drawing said rod to raise the front edge of said cut-ting ap paratus, substantially as described.

6. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55 at its forward end, the bell-crank lever pivoted thereon, the cutting apparatus 0, connected by hinges 60 to said extension, the knife-bar 61, whose head 62 has a transverse groove 63, and a rounded head 64; on the front end of said bell-crank lever engaging said groove, of the 1ongit-udinally-recipro cating pitman-rod P, the ball-and-socket joint 51 between said pitman-rod and the inner end of the bell-orank lever, the hollow supports surrounding said tubular casing, means for turning the latter in said supports to elevate the outer end of the cutter-bar, and means for raising the front edge of said cutting apparatus, substantially as described.

7. In a mowing-machine, the combination, with the semi-tubular casing T, having the extension 55'at its forward end, the pivot 54 r on said extension, the block 53, mounted loosely upon said pivot, the bell-crank lever having a bifurcated heel pivoted to the side of said block, the cutting apparatus 0, connected by hinges 60 to said extension, the knife-bar 61, whose head 62 has a transverse groove 63, and the rounded head (it on the front end of said bell-crank lever engaging said groove, of the longitudinally-reciprocating pitman-rod P, the ball-and-socket joint 51 between said pitman-rod and the inner end of the bell-crank lever, the hollow supports surrounding said semi-tubular casing, means for turning the latter in said supports to elevate the outer end of the. cutting apparatus, and means for raising the front edge of said cutting apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described.

presence of two witnesses.

JACOB KAUFMANN. lVitnesses:

S. B. Oonnmc'ron, L. A. M. GEORGE. 

